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1. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
Heavy Metal Contamination In Soil Under The Application Of
Polluted Sewage Water Across Vrishabhavathi River
Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih
1
Department of Environmental Science, Kuvempu University, Karnataka.
2
SJB Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka.
3
Gulburga University, Karnataka.
Abstract
The main aim in this study is to assess essential plant nutrients and heavy metals [4]. The
the level of heavy metals concentration in soil fertility levels of the soil are improved considerably
profile and their mobility in the presence of pH using waste water irrigation [5-7]. Heavy metals
and organic carbon ,where polluted water is are generally not removable even after the
used in agriculture. The samples of soil collected treatment by sewage treatment plants, causes heavy
at different sites across Vrishabhavathi river metal contamination of the soil and subsequently to
valley have been analyzed for heavy metals, viz. food chain [8-10]. If these metals move too rapidly
Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Fe and Mn using atomic in particular soils, they can also pollute ground
absorption spectrophotometer. These values water supplies, especially in higher water table
assessed with respect to reference soil taken areas. Movement of heavy metal is higher where
from unpolluted soil profile. The heavy metals sewage waste is disposed on sandy, acidic and low
studied at all sampling sites compared with organic matter soils, receiving high rainfall or
Indian Standards and all heavy metals are irrigation water [11].This technical paper mainly
below permissible limits. The concentration of focuses on heavy metal soil contamination along
all the metals is high compared to the soil Vrishabhavathi river valley where waste water is
sample taken from unpolluted site shows the continuously used for irrigation of crops.
build up of heavy metal concentration using
polluted water in irrigation. The % of organic Materials and Methods
carbon varies from 1.9 to 2.9 % in top layer and Study area
1 to 1.6 % in the subsequent layer. The pH value Bangalore is located at a latitude 12.58’N
is higher on top layer soil and decreases in and longitude of 77.35’E at an altitude of 921 m
subsequent layer. above mean sea level [12]. Vrishabhavathi river is
one of the tributaries of the river Cauvery. It carries
Keywords: Heavy metals, Soil, Sewage water. largest drainage watersheds out of three viz.,
Vrishabhavathi(1) , Bellandur(2) and Nagavara(3)
Introduction watersheds as shown in fig 1. The Vrishabhavathi
The industrial and municipal sewage watershed carries polluted effluents of two major
waste water is mainly used for the irrigation of industrial areas viz. Peenya and Rajajinagar and
crops in major metropolitan cities because of cost domestic sewage effluents (both treated and
and non availability of fresh water [1, 2]. untreated) directly discharged into it from a large
Application of sewage water and sludge to part of city. It also carries Industrial effluents along
agricultural soil is a common practice due to easy Bangalore-Mysore State Highway factories and
availability in periurban ecosystem. Heavy metal Bidadi Industrial area. This sewage water is used
transfer is rapid in soil profiles and they can pollute for irrigation along the banks of Vrishabhavathi
ground water supplies also. The soil is like a river valley for about forty five kilometres from its
reservoir for contaminants as it possesses an ability origin.
to bind various chemicals and different forces keep
them bound to soil particles. The excessive
accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils
through waste water irrigation contaminates soil
profile and in turn it affects the serious problems in
food chain contamination because of potential
accumulation and bioaccumulation [3]. The areas
where no alternative sources of clean water exist,
people uses waste water generated by industrial
effluents and sewage (treated and untreated) water
for irrigation of agricultural lands to increase the
production of crops. It has been reported that
sewage from municipal origin contains major
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2. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
Water shed 1
ETPs
Water shed 2
Water shed 1
Fig.-1. The three drainage water sheds of Bangalore(Source: Anon 2011, 71-City Water-Excreta Survey, 2005-06,
Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi)
Sampling and Analysis
The sampling sites were chosen to study Black method [14]. The samples dried for three
heavy metal contamination in soil, where the days at about 50oC, grinded well using pestle and
sewage water is directly used for agriculture mortar and sieved through 1mm nylon mesh. The
purpose from past several years. Seven sites were soil sample of 1gm from sieved soil is digested in
identified at different sites along Vrishabhavathi 10 cm3 of 1:1 mixture of concentrated nitric acid
river valley and the sites were shown in fig. 2 and hydrofluoric acid till all the black residue turns
during the year 2009. The surface soil sample up to colourless at about 200oC in fuming chamber. The
depth 25 cm is collected, since the most of the samples were redissolved in dilute hydrochloric
heavy metal retains in top layer with respect to soil acid filtered through Whatman no.42 filter paper
factors [13].Large stones and plant materials were with repeated washing with distilled water and the
removed. The pH of the soil was determined with filtered sample is diluted up to 100ml using
the ratio, Soil: Water,1:5 wt/vol. using water distilled water [13]. The samples were analyzed for
analyser 371 systronics. The organic carbon was heavy metals using Atomic Absorption
determined by titrimetric method of Walkley and Spectrophotometer (GBC Avantra Version1.31)
.
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3. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
Fig 2. Location map of sample sites acrossVrishabhavathi river Site no. 1 kambipura , Site no. 2 kumbalgodu,
Site no. 3 Gollahalli , Siteno. 4 LingapuraSite no. 5 Parasinpalya , Site no. 6 Shanmangala , Site no. 7
Anchipura
Results and Discussion
The data analysed for polluted soil and one solubility is low for Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu at pH 6 to
sample from unpolluted soil is represented in Table 6.5 and an increase by several orders at lower pH
1and the concentration of heavy metals at different values and in alkaline solution exhibited weak
sites is represented in fig.3. The heavy metal solubility [21, 22].
concentration increases by the application of Pb is higher18 mg/kg at site no.6 and lowest 1.2
polluted sewage water continuously in irrigation due mg/kg at site no.5 decreases with depth at all sites.
to leaching of heavy metals [15]. Higher Cd is below detectable range in all sites. Zn is high
concentration of metals were detected in the top at site no.6, 54 mg/kg and minimum at site no.3,
layer up to 15 cm depth and decreases in the next 15.6 mg/kg and decreases with depth. Ni is
layer up to 25 cm [16]. maximum at site no.6, 24.6 mg/kg, similarly at site
The pH of the soil is near neutral at all sites. The no. 5 & 7,19.2 &18 mg/kg respectively.
pH is maximum of 7.5 at site number 6, and Concentration decreases in depth of 25 cm. Cu
minimum pH 6.6 at site number 4. The organic concentration is maximum 31.8 mg/kg at site no.6
carbon varies from 1.9 to 2.9% in top layer and 1.0 and lowest 0.6 mg/kg at site no.3. The concentration
to 1.6 % in the subsequent layer across the study is high at site no.5, 21.6 mg/kg and site no.7 16.8
sites. The soil organic carbon is the not only mg/kg. Cr metal is maxima at site no.6, 30.6 mg/kg
provides sorption site for metals directly, it will also and minima at site no.4, 0.6 mg/kg. It is also higher
combine with soil minerals and increases the at site site no.5, 24 mg/kg and 12.6 mg/kg at site
sorption sites [17].The concentration range is no.7. Fe metal concentration is higher among all
sufficient to retain certain metals within 30 cm other metals, the concentration varies from 126
depth [18]. mg/kg to 234 mg/kg in top layer and 65 to 125
Near neutral pH more complexation of heavy metals mg/kg in the subsequent layer. Mn metal
takes place with organic carbon resulting in their concentration is higher at site no.3, 72 mg/kg and at
accumulation in the top layers [19, 20]. The site 2, 60 mg/kg.
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4. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
The variation in the heavy metal concentration in concentration is high in this area compared with
soil at different sites is due to variation in heavy unpolluted area. The heavy metals studied at all
metal sources and concentration of heavy metals sampling sites compared with Indian Standards [24]
present in polluted water where the water is used and all heavy metals are below permissible limits.
continuously for irrigation for several years. The The concentration of all the metals is high compared
soil pollution also takes place due to atmospheric to the soil sample taken from unpolluted site (table
fall out, emissions from vehicular exhaust, land 1) shows the build up of heavy metal concentration
application of municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, using polluted water in irrigation.
fertilizers, pesticides etc. [23] Hence the metal
Table 1: pH, % of Organic Carbon and Heavy metal concentration in soil(mg/kg) along Vrishabhavathi river
valley.
Site no. Depth cm Site-1 Site-2 Site-3 Site-4 Site-5 Site-6 Site-7 Unpolluted
soil sample
pH 0-15 6.9 7.0 7.0 6.6 7.1 7.5 7.2 6.5
15-25 5.5 6.4 6.3 6.0 6.5 6.8 6.5 6.1
OC 0-15 2.5 2.6 2.9 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.1 1.1
15-25 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.3 1.1 0.4
Pb 0-15 7.2 7.8 9 5.4 1.2 18 12 4
15-25 3.6 4.0 4.6 3.1 0.6 10 09 1.2
Cd 0-15 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd
15-25 nd nd nd nd nd nd nd nd
Zn 0-15 37.2 30.6 15.6 18 21 54 27 20
15-25 20.3 16.3 8.2 10 12 25 12 9
Ni 0-15 4.8 3 5.4 6 19.2 24.6 18 nd
15-25 2.3 1.6 3.0 4.0 10.1 12 10 nd
Cu 0-15 5.4 3 0.6 9 21.6 31.8 16.8 5
15-25 3.0 1.7 0.4 4.1 10.2 16.9 10 2
Cr 0-15 1.2 3 2.4 0.6 24 30.6 12.6 0.9
15-25 0.8 1.8 1.1 0.4 13 16 10 0.2
Fe 0-15 126 150 186 180 199.2 234 180 280
15-25 65 80.2 96 89 96.5 125 86 252
Mn 0-15 30.6 60 72 28.8 30.6 21 18.6 12
15-25 16.2 34 36 20 18.2 10 08 4
Nd-not detected
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5. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
Fig 3. Total metals concentration in top layer soil (up to 15 cm depth) at different sample sites.
support in carrying out research work. We also
Conclusion thankful to Dr. B Nagappa and H M Shivakumar of
The study reveals that the irrigation with pollution control board and Dr. B M Nagabhushan
polluted water containing variable amount of heavy MSRIT for the assistance extended during heavy
metal increases the concentration in soil samples. metal analysis.
The heavy metals studied at all sampling sites
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6. Jayadev, E.T. Puttaih/ International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications
(IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com
Vol. 2, Issue 6, November- December 2012, pp.1666-1671
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